A disgraced former Google executive is being sued by numerous couples after the weddings held at his luxury winery were overcome with disaster – which he has now abruptly closed and listed for sale, leading to entire weddings being cancelled at the last minute.

Simon Tusha, who previously worked as a strategic negotiator for the tech giant, and his wife bought the 163-acre land in North East, Maryland, and turned it into the Elk Manor Winery, which was a popular wedding venue due its gorgeous view over Chesapeake Bay.

But the former tech millionaire abruptly closed the property earlier this month, despite it being booked solid through September, leaving at least 50 families without a wedding venue, including some who had paid deposits just days before the announcement, the News Journal reports.

Meanwhile, one couple sued the Tushas after a disastrous ceremony – and there's a dedicated Facebook group where brides have posted their experiences with America's 'wedding venue from hell'.

Simon Tusha, a disgraced former Google executive, is being sued by numerous couples after the weddings held at the luxury winery he owns with his wife (pictured with Tusha and their children) were overcome with disaster – which he has now abruptly closed and listed for sale

Simon Tusha, a disgraced former Google executive, is being sued by numerous couples after the weddings held at the luxury winery he owns with his wife (pictured with Tusha and their children) were overcome with disaster – which he has now abruptly closed and listed for sale

But Tusha's legal troubles aren't just due to aggrieved couples.

Recently, attorneys for BB&T Bank argued he and his wife had defaulted on their nearly $5million loan for Elk Manor.

In May, Tusha had pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States after he failed to pay taxes on millions of dollars of payments from companies competing for data center contracts for Google.

The federal complaint says Tusha hid the illegal income through shell companies.

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He is free on a $10,000 bond and will be sentenced in January. Then, he faces up to five years in prison.

Tusha insisted the payments were from personal projects and not linked to Google in an interview with the Cecil Whig.

He blamed his legal predicament on poor tax advice.

Earlier this month, the Elk Manor Winery in Maryland was abruptly closed but couples said that the venue had accepted deposits as recently as last month

Earlier this month, the Elk Manor Winery in Maryland was abruptly closed but couples said that the venue had accepted deposits as recently as last month

Stephanie Sieminski had to postpone her wedding to Ellijah Beckel after the venue closed five days before her ceremony was planned

Stephanie Sieminski had to postpone her wedding to Ellijah Beckel after the venue closed five days before her ceremony was planned

It also led to concerned families contacting the Tushas to ensure the booked weddings would go ahead despite his legal and financial problems.

Camilla Rogers, from Bel Air, contacted him last month about her daughter's wedding in October – and was told there was nothing to worry about.

'He told me unequivocally that Elk Manor was titled fully in the name of his wife and that he made a deal with the feds that Elk Manor would not be touched,' she said, according to the News Journal.

Rodgers, an attorney, bought wedding insurance – but she has offered to represent other couples affected by the venue's closure.

The venue doesn't come cheap - a hay loft on the site costs $6,500 to rent on a Saturday night while the grand manor house with its panoramic views over the river is available for $9,500.

And on Facebook, couples have said Tusha and his employees accepted deposits and reassured clients that the venue was safe from the federal lawsuit as recently as last month.

It has now been listed for sale for almost $9.9million. The listing on realtor.com describes the property as: 'A VERY UNIQUE GENTLEMAN'S FARM WITH A MOTIVATED SELLER!' 

The venue doesn't come cheap - a hay loft on the site costs $6,500 to rent on a Saturday night while the grand manor house (above) with its panoramic river views is available for $9,500

The venue doesn't come cheap - a hay loft on the site costs $6,500 to rent on a Saturday night while the grand manor house (above) with its panoramic river views is available for $9,500

But when announcing the property would be closed in an email to customers on August 9, the winery mentioned nothing about refunds.

Instead it said that they are 'aware of the detrimental impact' the closure would have, so offered those who had already paid in full the chance to still use the venue – if they would spend an extra $1,000 to hire staff who were supposed to be included in the original terms.

Stephanie Sieminski was disgusted by the offer and instead booked another venue for November.

Her parents spent more than $21,000 for her wedding, which she spent eight months planning, to Elijah Beckel in August.

Five days before her ceremony, she came for a look at the venue late at night and found  a chained gate and a sign saying 'Sorry we're closed' - and was then forced to call her 125 guests to tell them the wedding was postponed.

The Elk Manor Winery was popular for weddings due its gorgeous view over Chesapeake Bay

The Elk Manor Winery was popular for weddings due its gorgeous view over Chesapeake Bay

Couples are now suing the Tushas after their wedding ceremonies were cancelled at the last minute or overcome with disaster

Couples are now suing the Tushas after their wedding ceremonies were cancelled at the last minute or overcome with disaster

'I think I cried at the beginning of every phone call,' Sieminski told the Journal. 

Now, the Tushas are facing numerous lawsuits from couples who have been forced to cancel or relocate their weddings.

In a lawsuit filed last year, George and Samantha Schneider accused the Tushas of ruining their wedding in June 2015 after the venue flooded, the News Journal reports.

The couple, from Pennsylvania, say the owners and staff refused to pump out rainwater or sandbag the venue.

'They stood drinking coffee and watched as guests and the caterer tried to prevent wedding guests from floating away,' the lawsuit alleges.

They also said bugs plagued the guests and the DJ was forced to move around the venue numerous times to avoid the possibility of being electrocuted.

Elk Manor denied the allegations.

A judge dismissed the negligence complaint, but allowed the couple to proceed with their breach of contract suit.

The Tushas are also being sued by their preferred caterer – Rouge Fine Catering in Hunt Valley, Maryland – who alleged that the couple owe more than $215,000 for 28 catering agreement since April.

And last week, Laura and Thomas Kemp, of Elkton, sued the couple and the LLCs that oversee Elk Manor for almost $8,000 for their October wedding. 


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